Compare towns
Mason vs Plainfield vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Mason | Plainfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
2,522Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Plainfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Plainfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Plainfield School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.